WILDFO WLING A T SEA 8 1 



feared that wildfowl shooting has become a matter of history 

 on account of the enormous number of craft of all kinds (steam, 

 manual and sailing) which have incessantly pursued them in 

 their once much-frequented haunts. Not only do these inex- 

 perienced harassers expend a maximum of ammunition 

 for a minimum of birds, but they bring about far more mis- 

 chief in destroying their confidence more in one day than a 

 skilled punt-gunner would do in a season ; for rare are the 

 occasions upon which a puntsman leaves his favourite shallows 

 to venture into the deep water, since, when he does so, the 

 result usually proves unsatisfactory, wind, weather, swell and 

 fifty other things impeding his working, to say nothing of the 

 other risks to which he is subject. 



Birds whose habitat is deep water are generally of the 

 short-winged and hard species, which are little esteemed by 

 the epicure ; they invariably sit scattered, rarely being packed, 

 as on the feeding grounds, thus adding considerably to the 

 difficulty encountered when trying for a shot a little above the 

 average, which bright pages in the record of one's sporting 

 career are, alas ! so very few and far between. 



But to the floating armada of boats, what matters it 

 whether they sit loosely or otherwise ? Their ambition, at most, 

 does not aspire beyond two or three birds for one discharge ; 

 and if approach is rendered difficult, rifle, shrapnel shells or 

 some other devices are brought into play, utterly disregardful 

 of the great danger attendant on their usage. Their fleet 

 possesses quantity, quality, also variety, and through its 

 medium is conducted a special branch of warfare against 

 the feathered tribe. Let us investigate the different 

 methods of procedure which they employ. We will take an 

 imaginary trip in a steam-launch, such as is often met with 

 cruising about the mouth of Harwich Harbour, the Thames, 

 the Medway, or, in fact, on almost all waters near large towns 

 capable of affording refuge to even a gull or loon. Our 

 craft is well suited for her purpose, has smokeless and silent 

 engines, is freighted with provisions, plenty of good liquor and 

 tobacco, a punt-gun mounted on her bows, and a jovial party 



